Return to the Marshes

We awoke this morning and found that everything was where it should be. We had been warned last night by a passer by, that we should lock everything up because otherwise 'they' would take it! We went to bed last night with some trepidation, but as is so often the case, it only takes one bad experience to give somewhere a bad reputation. If we listened to all the stories we hear, we would never have left Harlow! We started the day with a walk around part of Victoria Park in Hackney. A large and beautiful place which was made even better by the continuing sunshine. After a fairly long walk, we returned to the boat for breakfast, and then a final walk before setting off again.

Lola and Anushka wearing uniform, get ready for their maiden voyage

Victoria Park sculptures and fountain

Geese sheltering from the heat

Pagoda occupied by crows

Demonic ducks

We took in our wheelbarrow wheels and cast off, initially reversing a short distance back up the Regents canal to the junction with the Hertford canal (known as Ducketts), turned and went under the bridge into Ducketts. There were quite a few boats moored here which contrasts with the last time we were here when this stretch was deserted. We passed the Ginger Bunny - a boat we had shared a couple of locks with yesterday, and then arrived at the first lock on Ducketts. It was set against us, and while we filled it ready for us to enter, another boat arrived. It turned out to be a floating bar boat which we had seen doing a roaring trade yesterday outside Victoria Park. They joined us for the 3 locks in Ducketts, and were an energetic Australian couple who manoeuvred their boat a little haphazardly, this being their first trip! They were good company but we left them behind when we reached the end of Ducketts and headed upstream on the River Lee.

Sharing a lock with the bar boat

Jesus with three of his desciples

Weed continued to be a problem today with frequent stops for trips down the weed hatch. On the last occasion before mooring for the night, we were passed by a weed dredger pulling weed out of the river - A BIT LATE I thought to myself! We progressed slowly up the Lee, partly because of the weed, but also battling quite a strong current which seems odd given the lack of rain for quite a while? We reached Hackney Marshes where we had moored in the rain on the outbound trip, and decided to moor here if we could find a space. We did, and so we tied up very early, and set about hacking back the undergrowth to get off the boat and drive in mooring pegs. Angela donned rubber gloves and did a grand job of clearing a path for the dogs to get on and off while I flailed around with an old rusty saw, hacking down nettles and thistles. I have never had as many stinging nettle stings as I have on this trip! We took the dogs for a long walk around the marshes and then made ourselves at home on the bank with sunshade, chairs and cold beer.

Dr Livingstone I presume

It was incredibly hot again and we kept moving ourselves to stay within the shade of our small umbrella. We have seen loads of damsel flies on this trip but have failed to capture any on film - they land on the boat and take off again almost immediately, continuing their random flight pattern. Today however, one came floating by on a bank of weed and we got it!

A cute damsel showing no signs of distress!

We moved our chairs and sunshade onto the back of the boat as the sun moved round, and where the boat offered us a little more shade. It was a lovely peaceful afternoon, watching the world go by - pretty perfect really.

A swan enjoying one of our stale ciabatta rolls

Angela and dogs enjoying a bit of shade

Tomorrow we continue up the Lee through Tottenham and on towards Enfield.